How many “sevens” in Revelation?
The author of the book of Revelation has grouped many things into sevens. But how many times does the number “seven” occur? By counting links in the table below, and ignoring repeated sevens of things in the same verse, the number obtained is seven times seven, or 49.
| Explicit sevens | References |
|---|---|
| churches | 1:4; 1:11; 1:20 (2) |
| spirits | 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6 |
| candlesticks | 1:12; 1:13; 1:20 (2); 2:1 |
| stars | 1:16; 1:20 (2); 2:1; 3:1 |
| lamps | 4:5 |
| seals | 5:1; 5:5 |
| horns | 5:6 |
| eyes | 5:6 |
| angels | 8:2; 8:6; 15:1; 15:6; 15:7; 15:8; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9 |
| trumpets | 8:2; 8:6 |
| thunders | 10:3; 10:4 (2) |
| thousand men | 11:13 |
| heads | 12:3; 13:1; 17:3; 17:7; 17:9 |
| crowns | 12:3 |
| plagues | 15:1; 15:6; 15:8; 21:9 |
| vials | 15:7; 17:1; 21:9 |
| mountains | 17:9 |
| kings | 17:10 |
Other things are given in sevens, although not explicitly. For example, there are seven “beatitudes.” The word “earthquake” occurs seven times. More examples are listed by David Field. [1] The table below lists seven references to God’s prophets, seven references to earthquakes, references to seven beatitudes, candlesticks, references to Christ’s sword, sharp, Christ’s blood, Christ’s name, the book of life, prophecy, “this book,” judgment, kingdom, “right hand,” the saints, God Almighty, day and night, the bottomless pit, and heavenly voices in chapter 14. Seven times Jesus says he will “come quickly.”
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” occurs seven times, in: 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22.
References
1. David Field. The Seven Blessings of the Book of Revelation.
The image of the beast implicitly also have seven heads.